Brussels, 19/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - According to a press release from the European Central Bank (ECB), during the first half of 2010 a total of 387,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation. This is a decrease of around 13% on the quantity recovered in the previous six months. The table below indicates the half-yearly trend in the number of counterfeits recovered.
When compared with the increasing number of genuine euro banknotes in circulation (on average 13.2 billion during the first half of 2010), “the proportion of counterfeits remains very low”, explained the ECB. Nevertheless, the Eurosystem - i.e. the European Central Bank (ECB) and the 16 national central banks of the euro area - continues to advise the public to remain alert with regard to the banknotes received in cash transactions.
The €20 and €50 denominations continue to be the most counterfeited. During the past six months, the share of counterfeit €20 banknotes decreased and the share of €50 banknotes increased. Almost equal numbers of each denomination were recovered during the first half of 2010, together accounting for almost 85% of the total. The €100 banknote is the third most counterfeited denomination at 12% of the total. The share of the other denominations (€5, €10, €200 and €500) is very low.
The majority (more than 98%) of counterfeits recovered in the first half of 2010 were found in euro area countries, with only around 1% being found in EU member states outside the euro area and less than 0.5% being found in other parts of the world. (L.C./transl.fl)